Struck-off paediatrician loses legal battle

Paediatrician Dr David Southall yesterday lost a court attempt to overturn a decision to strike him off the medical register. The General Medical Council ruled in 2007 that Southall had abused his position by accusing a mother of drugging and murdering her son. At the high court in London Mr Justice Blake said Southall had speculated "on non-medical matters in an offensive manner". In 2004 Southall was found guilty of abusing his professional position by accusing a father of murdering his two babies. Stephen Clark's wife, Sally, was cleared on appeal of murdering the two children. She died in 2007.